Canuck

X2 Great memories.

Dark humour, but welcomed at this time

Great information, Kaz. What a production (tunnel) compared to just skipping across the highway on a sled. I've 'put in' canoes at Hartley Bay- very scenic. I'd imagine that the rivers we canoed on (French, Pickerel) have too strong a current / don't freeze downstream for safe snowmobile passage. Beautiful, nonetheless.

You know that you're a sledder when .... movement on a snowmobile trail (bridge) catches your eye LOL. Good catch, great video. Not up there in the summer, always light traffic in winter but imagine that the twinning will make a world of difference.

X2 Wonderful pics. Great memories

Thanks tricky. Been to most...and agree with your list

For the first time in 20 years, disappointed in the New Liskeard Quality Inn (rooms) during a visit with wife a few weeks ago. Place was empty (Sun to Tues trip), yet they gave us a room at the back - way in the corner. Carpet in hallway was recently replaced...until we got to our area. Old and musty. So what. .. inside room will be re-done. Nope. They hadn't gotten around to it. More accurately, hadn't gotten around to the 'King' bed rooms . Travelling with a buddy ... NL Quality with 2 beds may be fine. Don't go for the King beds at this property - time warp in those (back) rooms. We were on the trails, out and about so not a huge issue. But at $160 a night, 3 nights...invoice over $500 .. won't return. All 3 hotels named by Blake plus Waterfront are owned by the same company in New Liskeard. They charge what they want, renovate (or don't) when they want. (actually noticed a hotel in Engelhart that look very proximate to trails - http://www.englehartmotel.com/. $76 a night, and from pics looked liked the furniture in the Quality Inn. Across from the gas station ... many trail choices)

Thanks for the post, YF.

Congratulations on your northern cottage purchase. Staked trails are from OFSC " point A" to their " point B", often onto / off a lake. Make sure that the section of lake you launch from has safe ice ( you might even be fortunate enough to unload adjacent to the trail....I see that a lot). Lake freezing is affected by currents - if you stage near a river, etc., even a few hundred feet from the staked trail, be careful. Floatation suits are relatively inexpensive - if I had a lake access cottage, that would be a priority. Watch a video on how to get out of ice water - we seem to have one in the topiics/threads every autumn. Quite helpful. Lock the trailer ( and receiver / hitch & wheel lock) upon departure. Sadly, you never know. Many Polaris riders on this forum - you're in good hands with sled selection.

Nice to see you as a sponsor at Slederama, Wildbill /Rosseau Road Powersports. I had my boat in Peterborough a few nights this summer - folks seem to have an active, outdoor lifestyle down that way. And .. totally understand Sprucedale "Hotel" as a magnet/destination for riders.

I keep thinking that as our 'range' extends, we bypass places. Sprucedale was a natural stop (tm-STG) from Parry Sound. Now I'm there in a flash (ahem) and Kearney feels like a natural destination. Same thing heading north from our cottage on Six Mile Lake. Gravenhurst was a haul...trails got way better and we now by-pass Gravenhurst and stop in Bracebridge or Huntsville. Add the range of some sleds and you're flying by places you once stopped at. Just IMO, and realize that if I bypass Gravenhurst riding north, someone heading from the north will bypass their town and land in Gravenhurst. All good in the end. But our destinations have certainly changed. Heck, Bonfield>Mattawa (lunch) > Bonfield would've been at the edge of comfort for wifey and I years ago. Now it seems easy. Actually go for a toot further south after completing that loop in a day. Sleds are better, suspension more forgiving, trails are wider, better signed and just easier to ride. It's almost like the highway freeway model has come to Ontario sledding. And I sense more changes to dining & gas will follow. It wasn't just the Sprucedale hotel's 'issues' - there are other choices, not too far away.

There's a Nascar joke in here somewhere .... Interesting problem. Hope Nunz has the solution.

We'll also pop in this winter. Wonderful trail riding, and memories of a wonderful oc.com gathering.

Also want to say thanks. Bought one after seeing something similar in use on a trip out of D'ville. Thanks for taking the time to make it. Hope we cross path's at a snowmobile show (Malton in October or Peterborough in November).

Interesting question for Club rep at the snowmobile show. In the right conditions, staging out of Sudbury and heading out for a day trip into this area is wonderful. Then do the usual Sudbury loops on the other days. (I know, Sledjunk - they don't groom to the Moonlight Inn or Chateau Guay hotels ...but if they did! LOL). That area's grooming pattern has been odd last couple of years. Two hotel map sponsors and Royal Dist down the street (also a sponsor) - and bone / soul crushing trails in the vicinity. We won't even take sleds off the trailer upon arrival until we hear from hotel residents/sledders. Much easier to just trailer to STP yard ..return at night). Anyhow, glad that 400 extension is making the drive north safer.

Too funny. I'm joining the motley crew on this trip. New Liskeard tomorrow night.

Glad you brought this thread to life. Somehow missed STG's Yamaha bashing but otherwise wonderful lodging report. The Deep River sub-trails are incredible. There's a paper map - limited to those trails. Make sure you procure one before venturing out up into the hills. Trails are more like roads. Wonderful. Bear's Den was awesome during prior RAP tours.

Will the Key River gas station remain open after twinning is completed? So many seem to close.

A friend mentioned that he was renting out a second floor room (Toronto) via AirBnB . It got me thinking about sledding and rooms off the beaten path ("Slomo was here" ) Here's one for Iroquois Falls. Too difficult for Revrnd's list to keep up with Airbnb, but interesting in a pinch. This house, built in the early 1900's, was home to Frank Anson, one of the original founders of the town and the Abitibi paper mill. It has been newly renovated, and converted to a Bed & Breakfast to preserve the historical relevance of the site. We are located on a spacious lot at the end of Argyle Avenue, overlooking the beautiful Abitibi river. A full breakfast is included in the price. Guest access The house has a small crossfit gym, 2 big tv rooms with sattelite tv, 2 dining rooms, a big backyard. The 5 bedrooms share 2 freshly renovated full bathrooms https://www.airbnb.ca/rooms/18626580?location=Cochrane%2C ON&s=oSLRZROT Funny how some Air B n B reviews for northern Ontario (i.e. Timmins) say "Couldn't get a room due to ..convention..hockey tournament...so tried Airbnb" Worth keeping in mind.

X3. As PLC and SJ mention, if you're on that side of the highway, might as well continue per PLC's route. Stop at the Mica Mine ( bring flashlight). It will be on your right, heading west.

^ Might be a message ^ Kidding! Thx for the info. re Pinestone.

Fast boats on the lake seem to leave a sonic boom behind them. I wonder if it's as loud in the boat/ on the sled as around them. Occasional sonic boom in our kitchen. I'll ask her if she hears herself when I gather the courage. "Bill wants to know".

Really enjoyed the old set-up including heated outdoor pool. Definitely worth investigating changes if any/ if sold.

Good point re; 2 night minimums. I think that the 2 places you're referring to are Silversands Family Resort (bring your own towels) and Edgewater Park Lodge. Both have (had) gas onsite when we passed through and both have restaurants (Whiskey Jack's at the first, a diner at the second). They're there for us. Appreciate it. I suspect that we all try to give them business and cringe inside at "the things that make you go huh?" The 2 night rule in your circumstances seemed harsh.

I'm with the Spectacle Lake, Bear's Den, Valois crowd above. Tho' really interested in some of the new lodgings posted above. Thx One recommendation, don't take your 'room reservation' for granted. Call the day before to confirm the reservation. Our reservations has been 'misplaced' a couple of times. In both cases, it wasn't in a city - we couldn't just go to the Holiday Inn down the street. There's always room at the inn ahead, it's just 100 km away